racial tensions on these forums

[LancelotSA]

The problem is that the persons race is irrelevant. Would it have been different if white people stole the cables? No, stealing is stealing. The problem is that people are stealing the cables - the racial profile of the people doing the stealing is irrelevant - by specifying it's black people implies that you see a connection between being black and stealing, which is racist. If there is no connection between being black and stealing cables then why mention it?

Nicely said.

The problem is the racists just cannot see this! The same way they cannot understand why references to "them" and "they" in certain contexts are often construed as being racist. The ignorance is startling and this is what should be filling the doom-sayers with fear about the future of this country!

 

[LancelotSA]

Oh by the way, mods, surely an infraction should be issued to the OP for restarting a thread which was obviously closed for a reason?

Just trying to get a handle on this "when it suits us" infraction issuing on this forum.

 

[Kloofvreter]

Nicely said.

The problem is the racists just cannot see this! The same way they cannot understand why references to "them" and "they" in certain contexts are often construed as being racist. The ignorance is startling and this is what should be filling the doom-sayers with fear about the future of this country!

Hmm....a bit of a they and them user yourself? Stop being so touchy about bull**** and crying like a bitch.

 

[Lycanthrope]

What is it you don't agree with in my previous post exactly?

I don't really understand what Dreamking is trying to say...
I think it would be better to say "Dreamking saved a little boy from drowning"
rather than saying "A white guy saved a little black boy from drowning" unless the persons race is actually relevant to the story.
For example, in our country it *might* be relevant to say a black person saved a white child *if the story is about interaction between the races*
- it would be like saying a german saved a jew from the nazi's...

In a story about stealing, race is irrelevant since we know that there are people across all race groups that steal and also that there are people across all races who are honest.
Race really is not relevant here.

+1

Race is irrelevant. People are people. The cause of them stealing is not their race, but the fact that they are poor, or perhaps just kleptomaniacs. They don't steal because they're black--their race is irrelevant.

@ joelus -- I like your example relating to a German saving a Jew -- then there is relevance. When describing someone suspected of a crime who is still at large then yes, physical characteristics are relevant. Again, people are people and bringing race into it brings discrimination into it.

 

[Thurnie]

When a cables are stolen, buildings burnt down, trains burns down, nobody is surprised to hear it's a group of Africans. Now let me tell you if a group of whites burn down a train or a school, I WILL be surprised.

I think what people need to understand is that 70-75% of South Africa is occupied by Black South Africans, and if we have to calculate, a fair amount of criminals would be from that race group. Other determining factors that contribute to this statistic would be the socioeconomic status of this group and how it affects the greater population.

But these are not unique to South Africa, In Europe, the same is evident. However, Europe has more of a class issue than race.

In South Africa, We first need to address the poverty stricken, the uneducated and those with shelter issues coupled with basic services, before we can move on to the other factors. Once we do so collectively with the help of all south africans, without prejudice, can we look at what the real issues are facing this nation. Currently we are fighting among ourselves, a bit of a tennis game. But we cannot simply just forget about the past, if we do not know where we come from - how can we know where we going...

 

[boramk]

THe point WAS saying "them" and "they" and alluding that "they" stole the cables AND burned the trains.. You obviously don't understand that and if you can't see the biggotry in that post your ar a complete dumbass. As for DreamKing, I swear to fsck we need a mimimum English proficiency requirement in this forum

 

[LancelotSA]

Hmm....a bit of a they and them user yourself? Stop being so touchy about bull**** and crying like a bitch.

Well I should have realised someone would fail to note the strategically placed "in certain contexts". No surprises as to who it was.....

If you grasped primary school English you would have also picked up that my first sentence, in the second paragraph, referred to racists. The use of "they" in the second sentence would therefore be referring to these racists. Now feel free to go and educate yourself further and note how in the instances I am referring to no idea is given as to the group being referred to as "they". A subtle difference I know, but I'm sure with practice you'll get it.

 

[LancelotSA]

THe point WAS saying "them" and "they" and alluding that "they" stole the cables AND burned the trains.. You obviously don't understand that and if you can't see the biggotry in that post your ar a complete dumbass. As for DreamKing, I swear to fsck we need a mimimum English proficiency requirement in this forum

Thank you for the confirmation that those who grasp the English language where able to differentiate between the use of the words in both instances.

 

[Alan]

There will always be racial tension here. People will naturally push the boundaries of what's acceptable with dodgy posts that can be interpreted in many ways.

Is it really worth going all gestapo with censorship so as to leave absolutely no possibility of dubious posts? It will stifle debate which is obviously a major step backwards IMO

 

[techead]

There will always be racial tension here. People will naturally push the boundaries of what's acceptable with dodgy posts that can be interpreted in many ways.

Is it really worth going all gestapo with censorship so as to leave absolutely no possibility of dubious posts? It will stifle debate which is obviously a major step backwards IMO

my point exactly... cant stand the heat?? There is the door...

in my experience people only get nasty when they have nothing constructive to say

 

[techead]

Well if the thread itself was not worth it then my understanding is that the insult is. As stated just trying to get to terms with the lack of transparency with infraction issuing. I RBPed so please let me know, for educational purposes, whether you get one. Thanks.

can I pass you a tissue?

Im not gonna fight with you dude, clearly you looking for some kind of reaction here...

In waaaaay too much of a good mood to start a petty squabble on a forum

 

[Nom Chompsky]

Thank you for the confirmation that those who grasp the English language where
able to differentiate between the use of the words in both instances.

It's wise to check your post for grammatical and spelling errors when giving people a hard time about their (lack of) English skills.

There will always be racial tension here. People will naturally push the boundaries of what's acceptable with dodgy posts that can be interpreted in many ways.

Is it really worth going all gestapo with censorship so as to leave absolutely no possibility of dubious posts? It will stifle debate which is obviously a major step backwards IMO

Yes, we don't want anyone to do another "Rwenzori" on this forum!

 

[DarkStreet]

my point exactly... cant stand the heat?? There is the door...

Precisely, and this is why I avoid certain forums entirely - if you don't like what's being discussed, don't join in the discussion. Chances are you will simply derail the entire thread which is what happened to some threads today. Think a thread has racial overtones? Either you enter the discussion and provide facts in a mature fashion or stay out of it. Nobody is asking for you to join in, especially if your posts become filled with ad hominem arguments.

 

[techead]

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

LancelotSA thats not nasty mate...

 

[LancelotSA]

It's wise to check your post for grammatical and spelling errors when giving people a hard time about their (lack of) English skills.

Well while we are being pedantic, it was actually the post before where I was giving someone a hard time.

And there is a vast difference between a typing error and an inability to grasp the use of the English language. I will openly admit to often making typing errors but I'll take on anyone on here, in a spelling bee, any day

EDIT : And for your benefit I will re-enter this post to add additional punctuation to satisfy your high standards

 

[Grhardt]

Huh people . . . We are back to square one . . . Firstly, this is NOT a open, free speech forum. Get that and get it FAST ! This is a tech forum first and foremost. While some 'free speech' is allowed it should not directly or indirectly criticise the previously disadvantaged. MyBB is one of the biggest forums in SA and it will quickly attract attention. I understand the management and I should have done exactly the same. Certain moderators are there for a 'reason' and is a good one. No manager wants to risk a court case for race related issues! Not in SA and not in 2010. Of course some people are frustrated. But this is how things are. Accept them or leave. As simple as that. Just to get a idea how deep this issue goes - The SA Police has been 'silently' criticised because they described the suspects along racial lines. Makes sens but NOT in SA. On the police radio race is not used when the suspect is African. All the other members know that. If no race is mentioned, the suspect is assumed to be is African. And VERY IMPORTANT, is not because the Africans are 'criminaly inclined'! It is because the Africans are the biggest population group by far, which increases the chance for a criminal to be African. And finally, please STOP making a big fuss/noise about race in here! You WILL be banned! I hope this helps.

 

[Mamajyot]

Huh people . . . We are back to square one . . . Firstly, this is NOT a open, free speech forum. Get that and get it FAST ! This is a tech forum first and foremost. While some 'free speech' is allowed it should not directly or indirectly criticise the previously disadvantaged. MyBB is one of the biggest forums in SA and it will quickly attract attention. I understand the management and I should have done exactly the same. Certain moderators are there for a 'reason' and is a good one. No manager wants to risk a court case for race related issues! Not in SA and not in 2010. Of course some people are frustrated. But this is how things are. Accept them or leave. As simple as that. Just to get a idea how deep this issue goes - The SA Police has been 'silently' criticised because they described the suspects along racial lines. Makes sens but NOT in SA. On the police radio race is not used when the suspect is African. All the other members know that. If no race is mentioned, the suspect is assumed to be is African. And VERY IMPORTANT, is not because the Africans are 'criminaly inclined'! It is because the Africans are the biggest population group by far, which increases the chance for a criminal to be African. And finally, please STOP making a big fuss/noise about race in here! You WILL be banned! I hope this helps.

For someone with 23 posts i would not take u serious.

 

[DarkStreet]

Huh people . . . We are back to square one . . . Firstly, this is NOT a open, free speech forum. Get that and get it FAST ! This is a tech forum first and foremost. While some 'free speech' is allowed it should not directly or indirectly criticise the previously disadvantaged. MyBB is one of the biggest forums in SA and it will quickly attract attention. I understand the management and I should have done exactly the same. Certain moderators are there for a 'reason' and is a good one. No manager wants to risk a court case for race related issues! Not in SA and not in 2010. Of course some people are frustrated. But this is how things are. Accept them or leave. As simple as that. Just to get a idea how deep this issue goes - The SA Police has been 'silently' criticised because they described the suspects along racial lines. Makes sens but NOT in SA. On the police radio race is not used when the suspect is African. All the other members know that. If no race is mentioned, the suspect is assumed to be is African. And VERY IMPORTANT, is not because the Africans are 'criminaly inclined'! It is because the Africans are the biggest population group by far, which increases the chance for a criminal to be African. And finally, please STOP making a big fuss/noise about race in here! You WILL be banned! I hope this helps.

Have you read this?

 

[Sherbang]

I think it's important and constructive to discuss racism, it's something that we need to talk about.
Unfortunately conversations like this tend to descend into insults and accusations which is not constructive at all.
If we can cut that nonsense out, I don't see a problem with it.

 

[Fuma]

I think it's important and constructive to discuss racism, it's something that we need to talk about.

Maybe, maybe not. I don't think you can change any racist person. Children can change, but unfortunately their parents will feed them with racist shyt that it will be too late to change them. I for one don't bother these days. You can't change a stone into a fish.